49ers great Roger Craig urges Frank Gore to share workload

Trent Baalke, the 49ers’ new point man for the draft, met with the beat writers today in advance of next week’s draft. He was very cordial — but also smart enough to play things close to the vest. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has a nice round-up of our session here.

Craig also had time to talk football and, unlike Baalke, was in a better position to actually answer the questions. So I wrote about him instead. Here’s a draft of a story for tomorrow’s paper:

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Roger Craig, who made the playoffs in all eight of his seasons with the 49ers, has some advice for Frank Gore, who has yet to taste the postseason:

It’s OK to share the load.

With the NFL draft looming next week, Craig embraces the idea of the 49ers moving to a multi-running back approach. He noted the wave of successful backfield committees around the NFL, including the three-headed approach the New York Giants used to win Super Bowl XLII

Gore has been reluctant to share carries, arguing that the more he runs the better he gets.

For a counterargument, Craig pointed to his three Super Bowl rings.

“I think (Gore) needs to take a step back and realize it’s about the team,’’ Craig said. “I could have run for 1,000 yards a lot of years, but we were not going to win that way. There’s no point in running for 1,000 yards if you’re not going to be in the playoffs.

“You do what it takes to win. There were times when the most important thing I could do was selling a play-action fake so that Jerry Rice or John Taylor could get open and make a catch.”

If the 49ers agree with the idea of a backfield committee, they’re not tipping their hand. Director of Player Personnel Trent Baalke, who will call the draft-day shots in replace of departed general manager Scot McCloughan, offered no hints during a half-hour session with reporters Thursday.

But during a previous session last month, Baalke pointed to the Dallas Cowboys’ successful trio of Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. “They all different sets of skills but they’re all high-level guys and it’s very difficult to defense,’’ Baalke said. “I think the more you have complementary styles, the harder it is (for a defense) to prepare.”

Some mock drafts have the 49ers taking Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, a small, speedy back with return-game ability, with one of their two first-round picks.

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Gore, a hard-pounding downhill runner, has four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, a franchise record. As he often says, he’s not aiming for individual accomplishments. Gore’s argument is that he wants the ball because the offense tends to operate best when he’s in the flow of the game.

The 49ers are 11-4 in Gore’s career when he rushes for 100 yards.

But Craig said Gore ought to be willing to take a breather, too, because it could mean staying stronger and healthier over the course of the season. He pointed to the wave of tailback duos in the NFL, noting that even a superstar like Adrian Peterson had Chester Taylor pitching in.

Craig knows that Gore wants to stay active but he encouraged him to “look at the big picture.”

“That means embracing the guys that they bring in, like the kid from Alabama. (Glen Coffee),’’ Craig said. “That’s what (Tom) Rathman and I did. That’s the kind of mentality we had.

“It might take some readjusting, but if Gore wants to really establish himself, it’s about getting to the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. That’s how you want to be remembered.”

Craig, a recent Hall of Fame finalist, played for the 49ers from 1983-90 before finishing up with the Raiders (1991) and Vikings (’92-93.) He is best known for his contributions as a dual threat, once racking up 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

Still, Craig will find time to sit down for a few hours and watch the draft. And as much as he endorses the idea a running back by committee, he would still use his top pick on something else.

Craig wants a lineman.

Offense? Defense? It doesn’t matter.

“Just get me a beast up front,’’ he said with a laugh.

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As for that fishing promotion … A lucky angler will be selected for a fishing trip with Craig, as part of a contest sponsored by the World Fishing Network.

Craig, 49, grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and used to haul in catfish, bluegill and perch. As an adult, he once landed a 45-pound king salmon while on a trip to Alaska. “It took me about 55 minutes to reel in that baby,’’ he said.

Daniel Brown

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“You do what it takes to win. There were times when the most important thing I could do was selling a play-action fake…” – Roger Craig

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Great stuff.

I luv this guy. Craig always saw the bigger picture. If Gore can’t see beyond the tip of his 1000-yd nose (team “words” notwithstanding), it’s Sing’s job to KNOCK OFF THOSE BLINDERS.

Meanwhile, New Orleans’ trio of Mike Bell (172c/654y), Pierre Thomas (147c/793c) and Reggie Bush (70c/390y) — should also be included in any conversation about sharing the load (even with Bell now an Eagle).

The Saints were exhibit A among offenses that start with a solid offensive line, offenses that don’t require marquee ‘names’ at every skill position, offenses that feature more choices, options, methods of attack precisely because their OL usually win the LOS scrum.

phathom72

45 lbs. Uh oh better get my boots on the its getting thick. Haha. But on the real great words from a great player gore should take heed.

Carl Jones

I will always love the 49ers no matter win or loose. I can’t wait to see this next season. I love roger craig for the contributions he made. It would be nice to see the 49ers not only make the playoffs, but make it to the promissed land once again. Teams are remembered more for there overall success. When one player gives a necessary block for a spectacular play, the whole team wins. The block is just as spectacular and necessary as the score!

Sammy Moore Jr

I hear Craig loud and clear. And the difficult thing is “hearing” Frank Gore. Are we hearing someone who is “totally” unselfish and is thinking more about winning than himself, or are we listening to someone who is very selfish, and is hiding behind a facade of being a “team” player. It is very hard to decipher. If I had to make the call, I would opt for Gore being a selfish player deep inside, and trying to cloud the issue. All he, or anyone else has to do is look at what is working for playoff teams, and what has been working for the Niners. Gore gets “his” yardage, we win. However, just not in the playoffs. A final thought. Gore is a premier back, for sure – but I can litterally count the times on one hand in a season that he will “break” to the outside. It’s alway “right-up-the-gut.” Coffee, his twin, is “right-up-the-gut.” No hold, no gain! We need diversity in the run game and no concern over whether or not Frank pouts.

Sargento

I am NOT an FG fan. The niners and quite a few fans are infatuated with him…

James

“Craig knows that Gore is wants to say active but he encouraged him to ‘look at the big picture.’”

Typing fail. But thank you for the information

dfrancis1958

i never bought into that i need all those carries so i can get into the flow of th game argument,… another reason to get a RB, lonyae miller of fresno state seems like an intriguing prospect, is depth, both gore & coffe missed games last seaso, & IF they don’t start splitting carries, well gore is 27 & it will either prolong his career OR if they don’t, the niners will be looking for another starter in the next few years

RJ

Roger Craig is the MAN!!! I loved watching him running over people… literally stepping on them… it was great!!!

folsomite

Easy Sammy,

I’m going to give Gore the benefit of the doubt. I think Gore wants to win & get into the Playoffs more than individual accomplishments but Roger’s right he needs to step back & look at the Big Picture to remind him of what really important from time to time. That being said….can you say C J Spillers?

NinerRonnie

Roger Craig was a great 49er! Although his last carry as a 49er was a disatrous one, he was a beast. He even insprired HOF Jerry Rice with his workout regimen. There were two unforgettable games against the Rams and Broncos in 1988 when he ran all over people. I think he should be in the HOF along with Debartolo, Siefert, and Bobb McKittrick.

Craig 4 HOF

I bet you Frank Gore has no idea who Roger Craig is or what he accomplished.

And that my friends is the problem with the 49ers. They shunned the past, shunned the WC Offense, etc… Now it’s hard to have guys visualize what Craig is talking about here.

Gore probably admires guys from “U”, more than he does Niner legends from the 80′s. I hope I am wrong but players follow the lead from the top, and the 80′s bears are the model.

Sammy Moore Jr

@folsomite: I am a Gore fan. His story, the way he carries himself and his character from the beginning draws you to the guy. For those, and a few other reasons, I painfully came to my “selfish” conclusion dragging my heels. He admitted it with statements out of his own mouth. Statements I have a problem walking past. A writer, in discussing with Gore the new trend of multiple backs giving teams multiple looks, certain unpredictablity, and most important, effectiveness, Gore was asked his feelings, he said, “I wouldn’t like it.” That “I” keeps jumping at me. Not, “If it wins US games, I’m all for it” or, “Whatever it takes for US to win” – or something, anything along that line. But no. We got, “I wouldn’t like it.” He went on to point out how “I” need to stay in to get ‘in the flow’ “I” need to carry for this, “I” need the ball for that,” etc., etc. True, he was being honest – but to me, very self-centered by his own words. There is not one “I” in TEAM – and haven’t we all heard that before. Craig did it (bought into the “whatever it takes to win” attitude and look what it got him). Gore does not buy it, and where have we gotten to? At some point I believe Coach will sit him down and say, “Hey, this is what its gonna take for us to win, you’ve got to get on board with it.” If we get a “different” kinda back in this draft, then that conversation has already taken place.

Great article on Craig. Totally an unselfish player. He had his moments. Running all over the Dolphins in the Super Bowl at Stanford, that memorable run against the Rams and his game clinching run against the Vikes to name a few. Niners just missed a 3-peat because of his fumble but that was a great play by a great Giants defense. No shame there.
I think the niners should go Spillar at 13. Holy moly, Davis, Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn and Spillar on the field on 3rd down. Sounds good to me.

http://yahoo reggie

there’s no way u take the risk of taking davis at 13 win im sure that there will b a sure fire secondry player like haden thomas or wilson sitting there at 13

http://YAHOO.COM FOY DANIELS

49ERS NEED TWO OL MEN!,IF WE CAN RUN THE BALL THAT GOOD LAST YEAR WITH THAT LINE,JUST THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE WILL BE THIS YEAR.THINK BACK THAT’S WHAT KNOCK OUT STEVE YOUNG AND KEPT JEFF RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE.NEED MORE SPEED AT FS TAYLOR MAYS CAN HELP.